A Tennessee man who spent more than a month behind bars over Facebook memes about conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reached an $835,000 settlement with county officials after filing a lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights were violated.
According to reports, 61-year-old retired police officer Larry Bushart was arrested in September after refusing to remove memes he posted following Kirk’s assassination. Authorities claimed one of the posts caused panic in the community because it referenced a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, even though investigators reportedly knew the meme was not about Tennessee.
Bushart spent 37 days in jail before prosecutors dropped the felony charge in October. During that time, he lost his post-retirement job, missed his wedding anniversary, and was unable to be there for his granddaughter’s birth.
“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement. “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy.”
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Why the Facebook Post Became a Criminal Case
The meme that reportedly led to Bushart’s arrest featured President Donald Trump alongside the phrase “We have to get over it” — a quote Trump made in 2024 after a deadly school shooting at Perry High School in Iowa.
Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems previously stated that while most of Bushart’s posts were protected free speech, investigators believed the school-related meme intentionally caused fear in the local Tennessee community because Perry County also has a high school with the same name.
Bushart’s bail was initially set at $2 million, drawing national attention and criticism from free speech advocates.
Free Speech Groups React
The case quickly became a major First Amendment debate after the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression helped represent Bushart in federal court.
Attorney Cary Davis said the settlement should serve as a warning to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
“It’s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,” Davis said. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable.”
The settlement comes as social media speech and criminal investigations continue colliding in politically charged cases across the United States.
Why This Case Went Viral
While many Americans have faced backlash, firings, or public outrage over controversial social media posts, Bushart’s arrest stood out because it escalated into an actual criminal prosecution tied directly to online speech.
The case sparked heated debates online over where the line exists between protected speech and alleged threats — especially when posts reference violence, schools, or political figures.
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